, 1887-06-01
SIR j. AUroB1oGRAPH
(F.0m the I'imcs.N

On Tuesday Sir ]. Il. Millais was present at
the annual c0RrerSaxioneof the Sheffield School
of Art, and distributed the prizes to the sue
cessful students. DR.. Sorby, president of the
school, was in the chair, supported by Mr..
G. Stuart. Wortley. NJ. p. and Mrs. Stuart
Wortjey:
Sir John Millais, who was loudly cheered,
said he had prepared many speeches for that
evening, but he had decided to cast them ell
aside and tell his hearers an eventful story
of his life. (Cheers,) Fifty years ago his
parents brought him over from Jersey, took
him to Southampton, and there took q place
on the top of q mail coach for London. He
remembered the incidents Of that journey
wildly, but he would not dwell upon them;
he would merely say that be recollected they
sat on the seat behind the coachman, and that
as they passed the railway, which was then in
course of constructions the coachman made
some derisive remarks about this neWfangled
method of locomotion. He and his parents
Joined in the derision, for at that time q
coachman was a great man they had conf
dence in him, especially when he was driving
four horses. daughter AS they approached
London he remembered that he observed %
great red glow in the sky which was new to
him, and he asked his mother what it was.
"My boy" she said, those are the lights Of
London"-the London in which he was to
sink or swim. The first day they were in
London his father, who had been an officer in
the Jersey Militia and who was very fond of
soldering, took him to the Horse Guards,
and there he saw the giant horsemen on either
side of the gateway. The next day,
the ~eventful day of his life, he was taken by
his mother to Sir Martin Archer Shee, then
President of the Royal Academy. They were
ushered into an ante room, and had to wait
some tima for the great man. When he APP
peared he received them with old fashioned
kindness and p~oliteness. His mother, who
was a clever practical woman land here he
should like to say that he owed everything
to his mother), lost not q moment in telling
the President the object of their visit. She
told him how their neighbours and friends in
Jersey thought greatly of his talents, that
she would not trust to the opinion of friends,
and SO she had come to him to ascertain from
the best source whether it would be prudent
for his father to bring him up as an artist.
The first remark which Sir Martin Shee made
he should never forget. He said, MADAM
you had better bring the boy up to be a
chimney sweeper" They could imagine that
his hopes looked very black indeed. Nothing
daunted his mother replied, But, surely,
Sir Martin you will look at the boys draw
ings before you decide. Thereupon q portfo-
Ito was brought up from the hall and opened
and inspected by the president. After giving
the drawings some careful attention the pre-
sident turned to him, placed his hand upon
his head, and looked him steadfastly in the
face, saying, you did all these drawings
yourself my little man?" He was too Tighten
ed to answer, but the president evidently
thought he was not an impostor, for, turning
to his mother, he said emphaticalIy, Madam,
it is your duty to bring this boy up to the
profession" (Cheers.) Following this advice
he was at once placed with Mr.. Sass, a very